After a blockbuster mid-season trade, we grade Taylor Hendricks' first stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. Can the former lottery pick replace Jaren Jackson Jr.'s elite defensive production?
A major NBA trade typically signals a change in a franchise's direction. It typically means one of two things: They're thinking about the future, or they're focused on the present. When the Memphis Grizzlies moved Jaren Jackson Jr. at the trade deadline this year, it wasn't hard to read the tea leaves: They're thinking a few years down the road.
Jackson has been pivotal to the Grizzlies' success in recent years. Now that he's on the Utah Jazz, Memphis has a haul of first-round picks in exchange for his services, but they also picked up a stylistically comparable, younger player in Taylor Hendricks.
Can he replace Jackson?
Hendricks Gets Solid Reviews in First Memphis Tenure
In short: not likely.
That's an unfair expectation. Jackson is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate; Hendricks is unlikely to meet that level by virtue of the fact that very few players in league history ever do.
That said, there's literal replacement, and then there's functional replacement. The Grizzlies need a versatile defensive frontcourt player, as virtually any modern team does. Hendricks showed he can play that role during his time with the team in 2025-26.
In his 11 starts with Memphis, he averaged 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks in just 24.1 minutes per game. Hendricks is an active defensive playmaker. He can play the passing lanes and block shots from the weakside, showing the switchability that allows him to guard multiple positions.
If there are questions about Hendricks, they're on the offensive end. That said, his efficiency in Memphis was solid. Hendricks shot 34.2% from deep—not an elite mark, but for a player with his defensive ceiling, it's a solid foundation to build upon.
Is it enough to secure his future in Memphis?
Grizzlies Need a Longer Look at Hendricks
There's little doubt that Hendricks is a solid NBA player who will be in rotations for a long time. The question is whether he's a long-term "keeper" or the type of portable player that's easily included in future trades.
To make himself indispensable, he'll need to diversify his offensive approach. Hendricks doesn't currently create his own shot. As a 6'9" wing who spaces the floor, that isn't a substantial issue, but it also means Memphis would trade him at any time if a larger deal for a superstar felt right.
We'll see what happens. For now, we can only grade Hendricks on what he's accomplished so far. His first stint in Memphis was solid, if unremarkable. Whether he's part of another large trade this summer remains to be seen.
Grade: B